CUTLER
THOMAS HANDYSIDE SHTANYUK CLARKE
GUDJONSSON GUNNARSON O'CONNOR NEAL
IWELUMO HOEKSTRA
The gap widened between the potters (3rd) and Bristol City (4th) to 4 points after Bristol City lost to Brighton HA - who stand in the place above Stoke. Stoke will be hoping to win on tuesday to go into second and use their 2nd game in hand to create a gap between themselves and brighton - closing in on first position. Thats an ideal world, but not always how it turns out.
Swindon manager Roy Evans admitted he was "as sick as a pig" after watching his side play well but concede three soft goals.
Town were hoping to build on their encouraging 1-1 draw at play-off chasing Wycombe Wanderers last Saturday and to register their second home win in succession.
But Stoke, who arrived on the back of a seven-game unbeaten run and lying third in the Division Two table, had distinctly different ideas.
And Lewis Neal, who was handed his full league debut after Jurgen Van Deurzen failed a late fitness test, fired an early warning shot when he blazed over from 10 yards with Chris Iwelumo screaming that he was in a better position.
Giuliano Grazioli was looking to add to his goals tally at the other end and went close after 13 minutes hooking a cross from Neil Ruddock just over.
But Stoke took the lead against the run of play through Icelandic midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson after 26 minutes after good work by former Dutch international Peter Hoekstra on the left.
Swindon keeper Bart Griemink did well to beat away Gunnarsson initial header, but the Dutch keeper was helpless as the loose ball spilled at his feet for the easiest of finishes.
Danny Invincibile caused panic in the Stoke defence after 43 minutes as Swindon rallied but his chip went agonisingly across the face of goal after keeper Neil Cutler had raced off his line.
Grazioli again went close just a minute later before Stoke went in at the break relieved to have protected their slender lead.
Former Burnley midfielder Andrew Cooke replaced Hoekstra for the start of the second half, the Dutchman presumably injured in a hard-fought first half.
But it was the home side who looked most like adding to the scoresheet with Grazioli again bringing the crowd to their feet with a spectacular dipping volley after 56 minutes followed by another on the spin five minutes later.
Swindon were left to rue their missed chances as Stoke showed the clinical edge to their play which has brought them such success early this season.
Wayne Thomas provided the ammunition from the right flank and Iwelumo was on hand to poke home from close range to make it 2-0.
Swindon's French striker Eric Sabin, making a tentative return after a two-month spell out with injury, replaced Grazioli to see if he could provide a lifeline for the home side.
But for all their effort it was the visitors who extended their lead further when James O'Connor grabbed his first goal of the season with five minutes remaining.
The Republic of Ireland Under-21 star conned the Swindon defence into thinking he was going to curl the ball off the far post then with a drop of the shoulder buried the ball low and hard into the other post
Sports.com
